Backyard cooks chasing real wood-fired flavor without giving up the convenience of propane get the best of both worlds from a pellet gas combo. These grills pair charcoal or pellet fuel with gas burners so weeknight burgers and weekend brisket both fit on the same cook. The lineup below covers compact charcoal starters, vertical drum smokers, and dual-fuel rigs that handle everything from tailgates to full cookouts.
The Lineup, Simplified
Oklahoma Joe’s Rambler Portable Charcoal Grill
Oklahoma Joe’s Bronco Pro Drum Smoker and Grill
BESTFIRE 3-Burner Tabletop Gas Grill
Oklahoma Joe’s Firecraft Modular Open Fire Barrel Grill
Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Reverse Flow Offset Smoker
Oklahoma Joe’s Canyon Combo Dual Fuel Grill
Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Offset Charcoal Smoker
The Details Behind The Selections
Tabletop charcoal cooking feels tailor-made for the Rambler. The unit delivers 218 square inches of cooking area, enough for roughly eight to ten burgers at a time, which suits small patios and tailgates without dominating the space.
A height-adjustable charcoal tray lets users raise the fire for searing or lower it for gentler cooking, a control point that isn’t always found on portable units. The compact body makes transport straightforward, and the steel construction holds up well to repeated outdoor use.
Noteworthy Benefits
- Adjustable charcoal tray gives genuine heat control in a tabletop footprint
- 218 sq. in. of cooking area handles weeknight dinners for a small family
- Steel body is straightforward to wipe clean after a cook
- Lightweight design makes it travel-friendly for camping and game days
Honest Caveats
- No lid means longer cooks depend on careful charcoal management
- Cooking real estate runs small for guests beyond four people
Right Fit For
Tailgaters, apartment dwellers, and small families wanting real charcoal flavor without permanent patio space.
Look Elsewhere When
Feeding a crowd of ten or more on a regular basis points toward the Oklahoma Joe’s Canyon Combo Dual Fuel Grill, which offers far more capacity.
Vertical drum smokers tend to attract two types of cooks: those chasing long overnight smokes and those trying ribs for the first time. The Bronco Pro lands squarely in the middle of that group. Its sealed lid and engineered airflow system support steady low-and-slow temperatures for hours.
The 21.5-inch drum body and 366 sq. in. cooking area handle a full brisket flat plus a few extra cuts. An oversized charcoal basket is the standout feature, rated to support 15 or more hours of continuous burn, which removes the most common pain point of vertical smoking.
The Practical Payoff
- Extended-burn basket means fewer middle-of-the-night refuels
- Sealed lid holds consistent temperatures for true low-and-slow work
- Drum format keeps the footprint manageable on smaller decks
Points To Note
- Requires more temperature babysitting than gas or pellet rigs
- Drum-style cooking needs a learning curve for vent and damper timing
- Less flexible than offset smokers when switching to direct grilling
Feature Snapshot
Whose Shelf It Belongs On
Hobbyists committed to charcoal-only smoking who want set-it-and-forget-it convenience inside a drum format.
Where Another Pick Suits Better
Cooks wanting both gas grilling and charcoal smoking in one frame should consider the Oklahoma Joe’s Canyon Combo Dual Fuel Grill instead.
Propane grilling away from home usually means sacrificing burner control, but the BESTFIRE 3-Burner tabletop pushes back. Three independent burners deliver 30,000 BTU total, enough headroom to sear steaks on one side while simmering vegetables on the other.
The viewing glass lid is a small touch that ends up being huge in practice. Users can monitor food without lifting and losing heat, which makes low-temperature cooks far more predictable. A stainless steel body and built-in thermometer round out the package for tailgates, patios, and RV trips.
Where It Helps
- Three-burner layout gives true zone cooking in a portable frame
- Glass lid cuts down on heat loss during long cooks
- Stainless body resists weather and cleans up easily
Trade Offs
- Propane-only setup, so no real wood-fired flavor
- Tabletop size caps the number of guests served at once
Quick Facts
Who Will Love This
RV owners, campers, and tailgaters who want gas convenience in a body that fits a picnic table or truck bed.
Swap It Out When
Cooks chasing authentic smoke flavor should look at the Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Reverse Flow Offset Smoker for a charcoal-driven alternative.
Open-fire cooking has a pull that enclosed grills rarely match. The Firecraft barrel leans into that trend with a modular design that pulls double duty as a fire pit, an open-flame grill, and a backyard cooking station depending on the configuration.
Two round heavy-gauge wire grates split 480 sq. in. of cooking area roughly in half. A twist-lock handle releases the grate for stoking the fire without disturbing food, which solves a real frustration with barrel-style cookers.
Good Reasons To Consider
- 360-degree fire access keeps stoking simple
- Modular layout works as a grill, fire pit, or cooking station
- 480 sq. in. total area feeds a crowd of ten or more
Worth Noting
- Open design means wind affects heat on breezy days
- No lid limits use to direct grilling styles
Technical Highlights
Built With In Mind
Outdoor entertainers who want their cook space to double as a gathering spot after dark.
Reach For A Different Pick When
Cooks needing tight temperature control for low-and-slow BBQ should choose the Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Offset Charcoal Smoker instead.
Reverse flow offsets are the cleanest path to competition-style smoke flavor. The Highland uses a baffle system to push heat and smoke along the cook chamber before it exits, which evens out hot spots that plague standard offset designs.
Removable baffles and an adjustable smokestack allow users to flip between reverse flow and traditional offset modes. With 1,093 sq. in. of cooking area, the Highland handles two pork shoulders and a brisket flat at once.
What Works In Its Favor
- Reverse flow baffles smooth out hot spots across the cook chamber
- Switchable baffle and smokestack setup supports multiple cooking styles
- Large charcoal basket supports overnight burns
- Heavy-gauge steel build helps the unit hold consistent temperatures
Honest Caveats
- Large footprint requires a dedicated outdoor space
- Learning curve is steeper than drum or gas smokers
- Seasoning and weather care matter for long-term durability
The Numbers That Matter
Who Should Grab It
Backyard pitmasters ready to invest in technique and want reverse flow consistency without a custom build.
Consider Something Else When
Someone wanting faster weeknight cooking should look at the BESTFIRE 3-Burner Tabletop Gas Grill for propane speed.
The Canyon Combo is the closest thing to an all-in-one backyard rig in this lineup. A 750 sq. in. charcoal chamber handles low-and-slow smoking, while a separate 3-burner propane side delivers 36,000 BTU of fast grilling heat. Together they cover nearly every cookout style.
Compared to the Highland covered earlier, this model trades reverse flow precision for true dual-fuel flexibility. The propane side heats up in minutes for weeknight burgers, and the charcoal side handles weekend brisket without missing a beat.
Useful Touches
- Genuine two-fuel design, not a side burner pretending to be a smoker
- 1,031 sq. in. combined cooking area for large gatherings
- Charcoal chamber fits two pork shoulders for smoking sessions
- Propane side reaches grilling temperature in minutes
A Few Limitations
- Large footprint demands permanent patio placement
- Propane tank is sold separately
Product Snapshot
Best Suited To
Families and frequent entertainers who want smoking and grilling without choosing one fuel over the other.
Skip It When
Smaller patios or renters without permanent outdoor space should pick the Oklahoma Joe’s Rambler Portable Charcoal Grill instead.
The Longhorn is a classic offset smoker with a cult following for good reason. Its firebox sits beside the cook chamber, feeding indirect heat across the grates. That setup produces the kind of deep, wood-fired flavor that defines traditional BBQ.
With 751 sq. in. of primary cooking space plus a 309 sq. in. secondary rack, the Longhorn smokes multiple cuts at once. Unlike the Highland, this is a traditional offset rather than reverse flow, which keeps the design simpler and the price friendlier for first-time offset owners.
Real Benefits
- Classic offset layout produces rich wood-fired flavor
- 1,060 sq. in. total area handles family-sized cookouts
- Steel construction has a long track record of durability
- Simpler design lowers the learning curve for new offset owners
Things To Consider
- Traditional offset designs develop hot spots near the firebox
- Requires fire management throughout longer cooks
Perfect Match For
Weekend hobbyists ready to learn traditional offset smoking without the complexity of reverse flow setups.
A Better Fit Elsewhere
Cooks wanting both smoking and fast grilling in one frame should turn to the Oklahoma Joe’s Canyon Combo Dual Fuel Grill.
What Matters Most Before Choosing Pellet Gas Combo Grills
Match the Cook Style First
A combo grill only pays off when both fuel types fit a real cooking routine. Households running weeknight burgers and weekend brisket benefit most from dual-fuel designs like the Canyon Combo. Cooks focused exclusively on low-and-slow smoking should weight capacity, baffle design, and airflow ahead of gas-burner extras.
Size Up Capacity Honestly
Square-inch ratings sound abstract until a cookout runs short. For households of two to four, 200 to 400 sq. in. usually fits a normal dinner. Families entertaining six or more benefit from 750 sq. in. or more, especially when smoking whole briskets or multiple racks of ribs at once.
Look for Real Airflow Control
Smoke quality depends on how well a unit manages heat and oxygen. Reverse flow designs, adjustable smokestacks, and sealed lids all matter more than burner counts on the propane side. A grill with great gas performance and weak smoke airflow still falls short of its promise.
Plan for the Footprint and Storage
Vertical drum smokers fit small decks but limit direct grilling access. Horizontal offsets offer more cooking flexibility but need permanent patio space. Measure the intended spot, including clearance from siding and overhangs, before committing to a unit over 1,000 sq. in.
Common Shopping Slip Ups and When Spending Up Pays Off
Pitfalls Shoppers Hit
Many first-time combo grill owners focus on BTU totals and overlook smoke chamber design. A grill with 50,000 BTU of gas heat and a tiny charcoal box ends up replacing a smoker purchase later. Skipping a check on smokestack and damper quality is another common miss, since those parts determine smoke output more than fuel capacity alone.
What The Higher Tier Buys
Larger combo units command more because they include heavier-gauge steel, real reverse flow baffles, and dual-fuel chambers sized for full meals. Entry-level offsets can produce great flavor, but mid-tier and premium rigs buy consistency, easier temperature recovery, and the ability to cook for a crowd without babysitting the firebox. The upgrade is worth it for anyone smoking more than once a month.